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Census-2011 to be held in 4 phases in state
HP plans to give pension to AIDS patients
Contra-banking adds to power board’s financial woes
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Land allotment to pvt varsities
Akshardham temple head surveys site at Dharamsala
Posting, transfer of judges
Aide of terrorist held
BJP dares Virbhadra to come out with corruption cases
Four held with narcotics
Achieve targets, Speaker tells dist officers
War of words on extension of package
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Census-2011 to be held in 4 phases in state
Shimla, March 26 Giving details of operations of the twin exercise for enumeration of residents and creation of a national population register here today, Registrar-General and Census Commissioner Dr C. Chandramouli said in the first phase of 45 days, house listing, house census and data collection for the register would be carried out from April 7 to May 22 and actual enumeration would take place from February 9 to 28 next in the second phase. However, in the snowbound areas of the state, comprising districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti, Pangi subdivision in Chamba, Dodra Kawar in Shimla, and Multhan sub-tehsil of Kangra, the first phase would be undertaken in June and July, while the second phase would be completed in September, 2010. The exercise would not be confined to headcount and provide the complete socioeconomic, religious and cultural profile of the residents and along with the biometric features like photograph and finger prints on the basis of which the Unique Identification Authority of India would issue the unique number. Once the number was given, an identity card would be issued to the individual. The scale of the operations estimated to cost about Rs 6,000 crore could be judged from the fact that over 25 lakh personnel would be involved to enumerate about 120 crore people spread over six lakh odd villages and more than 7,000 towns and cities. Earlier, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal to review the preparations for the exercise. Dhumal said the new feature of National Census Register this time was very important as it would provide most authentic record of residents. The data collected provided the base for allotment of funds to the states by the Centre for various development and welfare schemes and the five-year plans. |
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HP plans to give pension to AIDS patients
Shimla, March 26 The Himachal AIDS Control Society has already sent the proposal to the government through the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Though a final decision in the matter would be taken at the level of the Cabinet but in case it is approved the pension would come as a big respite to those who have contracted the AIDS infection. The State AIDS Control Society has sought a monthly pension of Rs 330 for AIDS victims who are already receiving free medical treatment, including all medicines. “Currently a total of 793 patients are being provided free anti-retro viral drugs at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here and at the Zonal Hospital, Hamirpur,” said a senior health functionary. The State AIDS Control Society mooted the pension scheme for AIDS victim after seeing their deplorable condition. Since leprosy patients in the state also receive similar pension from the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, it was felt that the case of AIDS victims must also be pushed through. As compared to some endemic areas, the number of AIDS and HIV patients in the hill state is not so large but even then Himachal has taken the lead in extending all possible help to AIDS patients. To assist AIDS victims in being financially independent and creatively involved the government has already given the go-ahead for providing them vocational training as part of skill development. The AIDS or HIV victims can undergo various training programmes if they wish to at any training centre. Health minister Rajiv Bindal confirmed that they would be provided training in tasks like tailoring and other skills so that they earn a living respectfully. Details of AIDS and HIV patients who are keen to undergo such skill development programmes have been sought from the two Drop-in-Centres being run at Paonta Sahib and Barmana. At present there are 635 AIDS patients and 4013 HIV positive patients in Himachal. The number of cases are more from districts like Hamirpur, Mandi and Kangra. To ensure that the more vulnerable sections are covered by intervention programmes, a survey had been conducted which highlighted that those associated with the tourism industry and transport sector faced greater risk of contracting the infection. |
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Contra-banking adds to power board’s financial woes
Shimla, March 26 The sharp decline in rates of power during winter has led to a situation where the board is exchanging inexpensive power with costly power and also facing a severe cash crunch during summer months. Data available from the Indian Energy Exchange reveals that power tariffs during this winter averaged at Rs 2.8 to Rs 3.1, down from a high of Rs 12 to Rs 14 per unit in June, 2009. While last summer saw the peak rate of Rs 18 per unit, thanks to the Lok Sabha poll when the state were ready to procure power at any cost, the tariff plunged to the lowest of 70 paise per unit in winter. The average difference between summer and winter tariff will come to about Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 per unit which means that by banking 600 million units, as approved by the commission, the board stands to lose a revenue of Rs 180 crore which it may have earned by way of sale of power. More importantly, its cash-flow position worsened, as under the contra-banking arrangement surplus power supplied to deficit neighbouring states during summer months will be returned during the lean winter months. It is not receiving the usual revenue from sale of power during summer and as a result it is facing problem in carrying out its day-to-day functions. The impact of the financial crunch is evident from the running overdraft of over Rs 600 crore. In fact, the state electricity regulatory commission has already asked the board to carry out a thorough cost-benefit analysis and review the policy in view of the increasing gap between the summer and winter power tariff. The commission has a advised the board to have an in depth study of the power market, which is becoming volatile and reduce the quantum of banking and contra-banking accordingly so that it does not end up as a loser. A high quantum of banking can hurt its finances due to seasonal difference. |
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Land allotment to pvt varsities
Shimla, March 26 Addressing a press conference here today, Katoch said while no action was taken on the video CD, the Dhumal government had gone a step further in selling mineral wealth by allowing entry of mining mafia from the neighbouring states. While local people who were carrying out small-scale mining in the state would lose their livelihood, big sharks from the adjoining state would loot the resources. He said the government was itself sold out to corporate houses as evident from the fact that the Jaypee Group had been allowed to implement its project even before transfer of land. Not only that it had increased the capacity of the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtu project to 1,200 MW without permission. The government was high on corruption and low in governance as evident from the fact that power projects, which were being executed in about four years in Uttarakhand, were taking seven to 11 years in the state. As a result, the state was being deprived of hundreds of crores of rupees, which would have accrued as royalty in the shape of free power. He also demanded that functioning of the state cricket association be made transparent and the details of funds received for IPL matches should make public. |
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Akshardham temple head surveys site at Dharamsala
Dharamsala, March 26 Swroop visited a site near Khanjan Mahadev temple on the Sidhbari-Khaniara road along with Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor. Later, while talking to The Tribune, the minister said the government was ready to give land for establishment of Akshardham temple at Dharamsala. The district authorities have been directed to look for suitable land on the Sidhbari-Khaniara road for its establishment. “I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also and he has shown keen interest in the project,” the minister said. He further said the project was likely to give a boost to tourism in the area. The authorities here have been trying to locate site for Akshardham temple since long. However, the availability of ample land in the area is a major bottleneck for the project. Most of the land in and around Dharamsala is forest land.
It cannot be converted for any other purpose without the permission of special empowered committee of the Supreme Court. Due to non-availability of suitable land many projects cleared for the area have not been implemented. The projects include construction of 300 houses for poor and construction of an IPH rest house. |
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Posting, transfer of judges
Shimla, March 26 In another notification, the high court has transferred seven district and sessions judges. According to the notification, Presiding Officer, Labour Court-cum-Industrial Tribunal at Shimla, JS Mahantan has been transferred and posted as Member Secretary, HP State Legal Services Authority at Shimla. District and Sessions Judge at Mandi DK Sharma has been transferred and posted as registrar in the high court. Whereas, registrar (rules) in the high court AS Jaswal has been transferred and posted as presiding officer Labour Court-cum-Industrial Tribunal at Shimla. District and Sessions Judge at Chamba SC Kainthla has been transferred to Bilaspur as such. Member Secretary of the HP State Legal Services Authority at Shimla Bhim Chand has been transferred and posted as District and Sessions Judge at Mandi. Whereas, District and Sessions Judge at Bilaspur Chirag Bhanu Singh has been transferred and posted as Presiding Officer, Labour Court-cum-Industrial Tribunal at Dharamsala, against a vacant post. LR Sharma has been posted as District and Sessions Judge at Chamba. |
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Aide of terrorist held
Solan, March 26 A seven-member police team had been camping in the Haripur-Goyla area for the past two or three days to nab this youth who was an accomplice of the recently arrested three BKI terrorists - Parshotam Singh, Daljit Kumar and
Tarwinder Singh - by the Mohali police on March 22. The police officials said he had provided SIM cards to one Harminder, who was absconding and was wanted in the Shingar cinema blast case. The officials also confided that he had supplied SIM cards to some other criminals and the police was on a look out for him. He had fled from home after a police party raided his house
following the arrest of three terrorists from Mohali. Dharminder had a criminal background and was undergoing trial in a murder case and was booked in some more cases as well. Since people from Nawanshahr frequent the famous Haripur gurdwara near Goyla he had come here after fleeing from home. He stayed at the gurdwara for a day and was planning to go to Jorjee, another gurdwara located nearby. Initial attempts of the police to nab him in plain clothes failed when one of the local policeman, who was accompanying the Punjab police, happen to get recognised in his khaki turban. This led Dharminder to flee from the spot. The Punjab police had to spend two-three days in trying to muster support of the locals. The policemen showed pictures to the locals and sought their support and it was one such information that helped them arrest him today from the Haripur-Goyla bus, confided an official. A police team from the Barotiwala police station also helped them. |
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BJP dares Virbhadra to come out with corruption cases
Shimla, March 26 In a statement issued here today they said
Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh must act in a responsible manner than indulge in petty politics to
mislead people. “People are aware that it was during his regime that corruption was at its peak and all decisions were guided by favouritism and nepotism,” they said. They further said Virbhadra Singh in his
capacity as union minister had not made any efforts to get the industrial package extended for Himachal. “It was on four occasions under the chief ministership of Virbhadra that amendments were
made in Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act and now Congress leaders were making false propaganda just to divert attention from their own misdoings,” they said. They said the Centre had ignored Himachal
whether it was in case of extending the tenure of the industrial package or expansion of railway
line in the state. “It would be better if Virbahdra Singh raises issues concerning Himachal with the Centre rather than ctiticising the state government,” he said. |
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Four held with narcotics
Mandi, March 26 In the second case, the SIU staff checked a bus of Prem Bus Services on its way from Manali at Bindra Bani and seized 400 gm of charas from the possession of Sunil Kumar of Naingujjara in Bilaspur district. He was also arrested. In the third case, the police arrested one Rajesh Kumar at Jhatingri in Mandi district and seized 50 gm charas from his possession. —
TNS |
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Achieve targets, Speaker tells dist officers
Bilaspur, March 26 Deputy Speaker was presiding over a meeting of district officers here today to review the achievements under various schemes launched in
the district. Rikhi Ram Kaundal said Rs 10.88 crore had been spent in Bilaspur district up till now on the MNREGA scheme under which 1,343 development works had been started, out of whom 843 works had already been completed. He said Rs 1.16 crore had been spent on the Mukhya Mantri Gram Path yojna, Rs 2.95 crore on the Backward area sub-plan and Rs 90.40 lakh on the Vikas mein Jan Sehyog yojna up till now here. He said Rs 3.63 crore were spent on area-wise decentralisation schemes and total 243 development works had been completed under this yojna. He ordered that all MLAs of district should be provided a list of all development works started and completed in their areas under the MNREGA so that they could also monitor these schemes and ensure proper implementation. MLA Randhir Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Nandita Gupta were among those who were present. |
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War of words on extension of package
Solan, March 26 Though the three hilly states were granted the central industrial package in December 2002, the period was curtailed for Himachal and Uttarakhand, ruled by the BJP governments. The recent notification of extending the package in Jammu and Kashmir has severally let down investors in Himachal. Extension of the package is essential since industrial growth in the state vis-à-vis national growth is even less than 1 per cent. “Though two key ministers representing the state are holding crucial portfolios, including Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, they failed to plead the state’s case for extension. Rather than opposing the opposition of neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana, Virbhadra blamed Chief Minister PK Dhumal for the failure to seek extension of the package by indulging in war of words. This proved the non-seriousness of the Congress towards the state’s growth,” opined BJP state spokesperson Nardev Badola. “It is lamentable that rather than presenting a strong case for package extension at the Centre the leaders are indulging in blame game,” Badola said. “Neighbouring states not only failed to provide regular and quality power to investors but also projected erroneous figures of industrial exodus to Himachal to stop package extension. It is, however, worth mentioning that even when there were Congress governments at the Centre and in Himachal as well as in the neighbouring states the UPA government had announced curtailment of the central industrial package from its initial 10 years to seven years which proved its utter neglect towards the state,” another BJP leader opined. Though some investors are hopeful of the package period being extended at the fag end of the month, it is felt that such extensions in piecemeal manners has defeated the very purpose of bringing about a sustained growth of industry. |
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The world’s largest data collection field exercise Census-2011, being held in two phases in the country, will be virtually conducted in four phases in the hill state with the snowbound areas following a different schedule.
Dharamsala, March 26
